Alternate Search Websites

While Google is the predominant search engine, using alternative searching websites can yield different results. Each searching website uses a different algorithm or system to come up with results and the capacity to fluidly use multiple searching websites can redefine the way a librarian can find the best answer to reference queries and many other library functions.

Bing:

• Bing is a "decision engine" developed in 2009 by Microsoft. Bing, like most search engines, works by users typing in search terms or queries. Bing then organizes results based on the search terms and spits them back to users in a relevant order. Key extras included with the tool are "Tiger" an index-serving technology that helps the site to give users more relevant results. Another key feature to Bing is that it will keep track of user's histories on the left-hand side of the site if the user wishes. The user history and calendar feature may be turned off.
• Currently, I use Bing as a secondary resource when researching questions with complicated answers. Usually, I will see what results I can find via Google and then I will pop over to Bing to see if I can find other sources of information that did not appear in the first pages of my initial Google search.
• Initially, I became cognizant of Bing due to the services' heavy marketing on television back in 2009. At MCPL, all of the computers use a Bing toolbar.

Duck Duck Go

• Duck Duck Go was founded by Gabriel Weinberg in 2006. The site features very few advertisements. It's large function is privacy, and Duck Duck Go chooses to track site use like Wikipedia, etc. instead of user's personal search histories to help to determine results. Thus, a big tool with using Duck Duck Go is that it ensures anonymity. Other key features include the fact Duck Duck Go uses company moniker images to help educate users on where they are clicking and frequently click. Another helpful tool is that, after a search, other possible "helpful" search terms are listed on the right hand side of the screen.
• Like Bing, I frequently use Duck Duck Go as a secondary search site. It also occasionally comes up as an answer I give at the public library when patrons are worried about being tracked on the computers. Although the library does not personally track users, this site does help to answer intellectual freedom questions and helps certain patrons to feel more secure.
• Jonathan Clucas, an MLS candidate at Indiana University first mentioned this searching service to me.

Mahalo

• Mahalo is an online directory that can work a little bit like Wikipedia, but also features videos, sports workouts, music, images, and all kinds of other media. Mahalo is much more browseable than most searching sites, but as a directory, it is not necessarily good for research purposes and focuses on the relevant, the popular, and the "now" to frame its pages. Currently Maholo's index only features 25,000 pages. Some tools include links to helpful search categories that can get users on a roll with browsing as well as Mahalo answers, a tool that is similar to Yahoo answers and allows users to post relevant queries and answers. The searching site itself also produces a daily video on different topics, which can be fun or informative. Unlike most site, Mahalo does not use algorithms.
• In the past, I have not generally used Mahalo as a research tool, preferring databases for research and Wikipedia, encyclopedias, and dictionaries for quick answers. I have used Mahalo as a fun way to browse in my down time. It is also a great coupon resource. I imagine Mahalo would be a good tool for teaching kids how to browse using a site that is not open source like Wikipedia.
• I initially encountered this tool through my mother, Connie, who uses it for coupons.